Your CHCANYS: May 01, 2009

Welcome to the May 1, 2009 issue of Your CHCANYS Email Update.

Twice each month, Your CHCANYS brings you quick summaries of items your health center needs to know about with links to additional information and resources. It includes timely updates about newly available resources, application deadlines for grants and upcoming trainings, as well as policy updates since our last contact with you. Look for these updates in the beginning and middle of each month.

We hope you find this an efficient, useful tool and we welcome your feedback and comments.
--Elizabeth Swain, CEO

CHCANYS Updates--NEWH1N1 (Swine) Influenza AlertNow that H1N1 has been confirmed in New York, CHCANYS has formed an interdisciplinary staff team to address the requirements of the situation and has been working to identify and meet the needs of community health centers. This includes timely dissemination of pertinent information, providing a link between centers and State/Local Departments of Health, and working to plan and strategize for an extended outbreak.

CHCANYS has worked to ensure that alerts from the Health Alert Network (HAN) and the Health Provider Network (HPN) reach community health centers. The HAN and HPN are automated systems for the City and State (respectively) that blast alerts in emergency situations to subscribers. CHCANYS is working to make sure that center personnel are receiving the alerts and helping to conduct outreach to increase the number of subscribers.

To sign up for the Health Provider Network in New York State, click here

CHCANYS has been in touch with NYS DOH and working closely with the Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to help disseminate information to health centers and ensure that the centers are getting the health alerts sent out by NYC and the State. While health centers haven't yet been specifically asked to play a role in the response, CHCANYS helped to coordinate a conference call and Q&A session held by DOHMH that was geared directly toward the needs and concerns of primary care. CHCANYS is working with DOHMH to plan and coordinate more of these informational call sessions and using these efforts as a test of our ability to conduct emergency information dissemination among our centers in preparation for larger responses. If you haven't been getting the Swine Influenza alerts sent out by CHCANYS' EP Program, please email Raquel Herreros at mailto:RHerreros@chcanys.org

If you or anyone on your staff would like to sign up for CHCANYS' Emergency Preparedness Alerts, please drop Matt Ziemer, our Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator a line at mziemer@chcanys.org.

Red Flag Rule Deadline is Today, May 1, 2009 Today is the deadline for your health center board of directors to have an Identify Theft Prevention Program in place that provides for the identification, detection and response to patterns, practices or specific activities-known as "red flags"-that could identify theft. For more information, click here. Click here for a NACHC doc on the rule.

New York State Department of Health Certificate of Need (CON) Webinar for Community Health Centers
Monday, May 4, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register Here - Call in numbers and webinar information will be provided after registering.

CHCANYS is hosting this webinar with the New York State Department of Health to better educate community health centers on the CON process. We hope to improve communication, enhance the understanding of the CON Program and to offer insight into recent and upcoming changes. We recommend that all community health centers participate.
Topics to be covered:

Capital and HIT Stimulus Projects If you have already sent CHCANYS your shovel ready project information, thank you. However, if you have not sent us your project descriptions please do so ASAP. Shovel-ready means any project that could start within approximately 90 to 120 days that needs new funding. To ensure you are included in our list of shovel ready projects please send CHCANYS the below information to Beverly Grossman at mailto:bgrossman@chcanys.org.

Impact of Activities: 1-2 paragraph(s) on what impact your project will have in the community? How many people will be newly employed or retained? How many new patients and uninsured patients will you serve?

Other Funding: Are there other funding sources providing support, i.e. matching funds?

What New York State Assembly and Senate Member District is the Project Located?

Resources for Community Health Centers and Capital Projects As you know, the stimulus package provides $1.5 billion for construction, renovation, equipment, and acquisition of Health Information Technology (HIT) for Section 330-funded health centers. Below are two organizations that we believe are good resources to community health centers in developing their infrastructure project proposals.

Stimulus Proposal and Project Assistance to help you develop a successful proposal, and assist with project planning to assure that your project is ready for stimulus funding. Includes project development, capital budget, and financing planning.

Funding to Leverage or Bridge Stimulus Dollars

Long Term Capital Loans to provide the balance of the funding to get your project done.

New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC) for loans over $1.5 million in qualified locations

Capital Bridge Loans to fill capital funding lags, including jump-starting projects funded with New York State grant dollars.

HHS Releases Guidance for Securing Health Information and Preventing Harm from Breaches
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published guidance regarding technologies and methodologies to secure health information and prevent harm by rendering health information unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable to unauthorized individuals in accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The guidance was developed through a joint effort of the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS). For guidance, click here.

Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Education Article AvailableAn education article is now available that assists all providers who will be affected by Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) implementations. This article provides information on what to expect as your FI or carrier transitions its work to a MAC. It also alerts providers on what to expect and how to prepare for the MAC implementations and will help to minimize any disruption in your Medicare business. Click here for the complete article.

NCQA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program
The NYS Diabetes Campaign, sponsored by the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) in partnership with the Institute for Family Health, is an initiative designed to reverse the diabetes epidemic in New York State by improving clinical care, mobilizing communities, and promoting policy. The NCQA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP) is a voluntary program for physicians and practices to receive recognition for quality diabetes care. The program provides recognized physicians with valuable information about their patients and their practice; and, receives internal/external validation of your practice's hard work and dedication.

CHCANYS has been chosen as one of the clinical hubs to participate in this effort and is recruiting organizations to participate in the campaign and in the NCQA/ADA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP). As NCQA DPRP recognized physicians or organizations you may also receive reimbursement enhancements for diabetes care with participating health plans. Joining CHCANYS in this initiative, with the backing of the NYS Diabetes Campaign, will provide your organization with resources and support in the application process and in implementing an improvement plan, if necessary.

To access a recording from a program introductory webinar, visit the Clinical Resources page at CHCANYS' website. Note: a recording key is not needed.

Region II Conference, July 12-14, 2009 - Register Today!Keynote Deborah Bachrach, NYS Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Health Insurance Programs and Presenter Jacki Leifer of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP will address attendees of this year's Region II conference. The conference is hosted by CHCANYS and held in collaboration with the New Jersey Primary Care Association, Asociacion de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Health Centers. Themed Community Health Centers-Yes We Can! , this 3-day event will be held at the Hilton Rye Town Hotel in Rye Brook, New York and features plenary sessions and workshops in board and workforce development, Health Information Technology, oral health, behavioral health, emergency preparedness, and diabetes prevention among others. Registration, hotel and sponsor/exhibit information are available by clicking here.

CHCANYS is Now on FacebookJust search "Community Health Care Association of New York State and become a fan/friend!

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES--NEWNYSHealth Foundation Announces $2 Million Economic Recovery Fund
As health and human service providers face increasing stress due to the escalation in demand for their services coupled with a decrease in resources, the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) announces the launch of a $2 million Economic Recovery Fund to help nonprofit health care organizations respond to the economic crisis.

With these economic recovery grants, the Foundation will give preference to projects that merge and consolidate organizations to create lasting and significant improvements in achieving their missions. It also will consider proposals from organizations seeking to significantly restructure their operations and programs.

Click here for more details and to download the request for proposals.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND TRAININGS-NEWDeveloping Effective FQHC Programs and Applications June 2-4, 2009
NACHC is sponsoring a two and a half day intensive workshop in Portland, OR on how to develop your program model, including comprehensive needs assessment, health plan, business plan and budgeting. This program is geared to organizations and communities interested in forming a FQHC, a FQHC Look-Alike designation or applying for Section 330 funding as a new grantee or for continuation funding. To register, click here.